Global Anti Fingerprint Coatings Market Research Report: Forecast (2021-2026)

Market Definition

With the rapidly changing consumer lifestyles, the use of touchscreen devices, including smartphones, tablets, & smartwatches, is dramatically increasing, which, in turn, is directly impacting the demand for Anti-fingerprint coatings to prevent the deposition of fingermarks. As touchscreens are becoming a significant part of a consumer’s daily life, the smudging of fingerprints is becoming a serious concern for them in terms of both screen efficiency & quality.

Anti-fingerprint coatings are highly durable, ultra-thin, & optically clear. They provide long-lasting protection to the surface from dust, water, oil, and fingerprint smudging. They also enhance the surface hardness and make it easy to clean. Besides, they pose several other performance advantages in different applications.

Market insights

The Global Anti-Fingerprint Coatings Market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of around 7.01% during the forecast period, i.e., 2021-26. Anti-fingerprint coatings are experiencing increasing demand across several end-users, including automotive, consumer goods, and building & construction industries, owing to their smudge control capabilities & high durability. 

The rising demand for ceramic sanitary ware for consumer hygiene, coupled with rapid urbanization and increasing consumer disposable income, are the prime factors driving the growth of the anti-fingerprint coatings market worldwide. In addition, with the mounting usage of consumer goods like tablets, mobile phones, and wearable devices among consumers, the problem of smudging, fingerprint strains, & reflectivity on these devices' surfaces are fueling the demand for an efficient coating to prevent it from dirt & stains.

These coatings have gained immense popularity among both display & device manufacturers owing to their properties like improved clarity & reduced fingerprint visibility, which is a critical factor in enhancing the aesthetic appeal of displays. Moreover, continuous research & development activities are undergoing to offer more effective coatings, which is another crucial aspect projected to boost their adoption across various end-user industries in the coming future.

Impact of Covid-19 on the Global Anti-Fingerprint Coatings Market

The Covid-19 pandemic adversely disrupted the anti-fingerprint coatings market dynamics in 2020. Governments worldwide took different initiatives like imposition of lockdown, movement restrictions, and shutdown of manufacturing units to deal with this global crisis. The halt in manufacturing anti-fingerprint coatings & other associated components led to massive financial losses and disruption in their supply & demand chain.

Further, the rapid transmission of the disease led to a decline in workforce availability. The closure of industries like automotive, building & construction, and consumer goods sectors negatively influenced the global market growth. Moreover, the suspension of major construction activities further declined the demand for anti-fingerprint coatings in the building & construction industry.

On the other hand, the pandemic also severely impacted the production & sales in the automobile industry, which is another crucial aspect that declined the demand for anti-fingerprint coatings in this sector. However, with the upliftment of restrictions, business operations across end-user industries resumed, which, in turn, infused the demand for anti-fingerprint coatings.

Market Segmentation

By End-User:

• Consumer Goods
• Building & Construction
• Automotive

The growing market penetration of mobile devices and touchscreen displays is accelerating the demand for anti-fingerprint coatings in the consumer goods industry. Of them all, the Consumer Goods sector dominates the Global Anti-Fingerprint Coatings Market. Mobile devices allow users to access information with a simple swipe, which results in the accumulation of oils, fingerprints, & other liquids on the screen that can damage it and make it look unappealing. Hence, it generates the need for anti-fingerprint coatings to achieve a clean & clear display with anti-smudge properties.

On the other hand, the burgeoning demand for anti-fingerprint coatings in the building & construction sector also contributes to the overall market growth. These coatings are used widely in ceramic sanitaryware as well as architectural glasses, which are used in museums, corporate offices, and other such buildings to make them more appealing.

In the automobile industry, the demand for anti-fingerprint coatings is astronomically increasing to enhance the aesthetic appearance of vehicles. Moreover, the surging integration of displays & optical systems into automobiles is another critical aspect propelling the demand for anti-fingerprint coatings in the automobile industry.

By Type:

• Hydrophobic Coatings
• Oleophobic Coatings

Here, Oleophobic coatings hold the largest market share. These are oil repellant coatings used widely in the consumer goods and building & construction industries, owing to their excellent resistance to the screen from smudge & fingerprint oils. Besides, these coatings are extremely compatible with handheld devices, virtual reality applications, and Projected Capacitive (PCAP) touch screens.

On the other front, Hydrophobic coatings prevent the surface from sticking to water and make it easy to clean & protect it for a longer duration from any damage. Any surface coated with hydrophobic coatings tends to pose water-resistant properties. These coatings provide resistance to scratch, corrosion, & abrasions and can be applied on surfaces like metals, glasses, metals, wood, and plastics.

Recent Developments in the Global Anti-Fingerprint Coatings Market

• ScuGen has developed a new Hamster Air touchless fingerprint scanner, which is reliable, compact, and affordable.
• Apple has been doing extensive research on reducing the fingerprint's appearance & smudges on metal surfaces. In line with this, the company has proposed using titanium for all apple devices manufactured in the future. The same has been filed as a patent, named "Oxide coatings for metal surfaces,” with the US Patent & Trademark Office.

Regional Landscape:

• North America
• South America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Middle East and Africa

Of them all, North America acquires the largest share of the Global Anti-Fingerprint Coatings Market with the extensive presence of coating agencies across the region. These agencies include Canadian Paint and Coatings Association (CPCA), American Coating Associations (ACA), and North American Coatings Laboratories (NACL). The presence of these coating agencies in North America helps raise awareness regarding the benefits & different applications of coatings. In addition, the availability of a large number of research and development facilities in the region to offer more innovative products is also projected to contribute significantly to the Anti-Fingerprint Coatings Market growth.

On the other hand, Asia-Pacific is projected to record the fastest market growth in the coming years, primarily due to the surging penetration of smartphones & other electronics items across the region. In addition to this, the rapid expansion of the automotive industry in Asia-Pacific is another crucial aspect surging the production & sales of anti-fingerprint coatings in the region. In the region, China, the world’s largest electronics manufacturing ecosystem with nearly five times electronic items suppliers than present in Japan, is the largest producer of anti-fingerprints coatings.

Market Dynamics:

Key Driver: Increasing Demand for Glasses & Screens with Anti-Smudge Properties Across Various End-User Industries

Anti-fingerprint coatings are used widely across various end-user industries, including automotive, building & construction, electronics, etc. The rising consumer demand for screens & glasses with superior aesthetics & anti-smudge properties is projected to fuel the growth of the anti-fingerprint coatings market during 2021-26.

Moreover, the demand for anti-fingerprint coatings is also expected to surge through the consumer goods sector, with burgeoning sales of smartwatches, tablets, smartphones, etc. Additionally, the leading market players are taking numerous initiatives by investing substantial amounts in research & development activities to meet the ever-increasing demand for innovative displays.

Possible Challenge: Massive Costs Associated with Anti-Finger Coatings

Since anti-fingerprint coatings offer properties like easy-to-clean & smudge resistance, they are used extensively across different end-user sectors like electronics & automotive industries. However, the high costs incurred with manufacturing these coatings act as one of the biggest challenges for the global market growth. In addition, stringent government regulations worldwide regarding the overuse of these coatings, owing to their chemical ingredients, might also hinder the overall market growth in the years to come.

Competitive Landscape

According to MarkNtel Advisors, the leading industry players in the Global Anti-Fingerprint Coating market are AGC Inc., Cytonix, LLC, Daikin Industries, Ltd., Essilor International S.A., Harves Co., Ltd, Izovac Ltd, Leader Optronics Technology Co. Ltd., Nagase & Co., Ltd., Nanokote Pty Ltd., Nanoslic Protective Ceramic Coatings, Natoco Co., Ltd, Nippon Paint Surf Chemicals Co., Ltd, PPG Industries, Inc, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd, and Taiwan Fluoro Technology Co., Ltd.

Key Questions Answered in the Market Research Report:

1. What are the overall market statistics or estimates (Market Overview, Market Size- by Value, Forecast Numbers, Market Segmentation, and Market Shares) of the Global Anti-Fingerprint Coating Market?
2. What are the region-wise industry size, growth drivers, and challenges?
3. What are the key innovations, opportunities, current & future trends, and regulations in the Global Anti-Fingerprint Coating Market? 
4. Who are the key competitors, their key strengths & weaknesses, and how do they perform in the Global Anti-Fingerprint Coating Market based on a competitive benchmarking matrix?
5. What are the key results derived from the market surveys conducted during the Global Anti-Fingerprint Coating Market study?    

Market Outlook, Segmentation, and Statistics 

• Impact of COVID-19 on Global Anti-Fingerprint Coating Market
• Market Size & Analysis
  • By Revenue
• Market Share & Analysis
  • By Type
    • Hydrophobic Coating
    • Oleophobic Coating
  • By Technology
    • Vacuum Disposition
    • Sol Gel
    • Others
  • By Application
    • Consumer Goods
      • Smartphones
      • Televisions and Monitors
      • Laptops and Tablets
      • Wearables
      • Others
    • Building and Construction
      • Architectural Glass
      • Ceramic Sanitaryware
    • Automotive
      • Infotainment and Central Control System
      • Stainless Steel
    • Others   
  • By Region
    • North America
    • South America
    • Europe
    • Middle East & Africa
    • Asia-Pacific
  • By Competitors
    • Competition Characteristics
    • Market Share & Analysis
    • Competitive Metrix
• Global Anti-Fingerprint Coating Market Hotspots & Opportunities
• Global Anti-Fingerprint Coating Market Regulations & Policy
• Key Strategic Imperatives for Success and Growth
• Global Competition Outlook
  • Competition Matrix
  • Company Profile